Chapter 485 - No Way Back (2/2)

Some time later…

The fragrance from a pot of tea filled the small teahouse. Du Jingtang poured Xia Ruoxin a cup of tea and placed it in front of her.

”Thank you.” Xia Ruoxin accepted the tea. She was fond of the method of tea making. As a wealthy woman, Shen Yijun was a fan; and Xia Ruoxin had acquired some knowledge with her. Making a cup of tea might be a way to calm one's restless mind slowly and clear one's thoughts as one basked in the fragrance of tea. Finally, reducing stress and calming one's thoughts.

However, she was no longer the Xia Ruoxin without any worries. For four years, she had done manual work, sold her blood for money, and even picked plastic bottles that others had discarded to earn one more cent to buy her daughter a sweet or one more stock of vegetables.

All this tea was a luxury and became unnecessary during that time.

It felt like a dream to her now as she was sampling the tea. She even had the urge to curse.

”Cousin-in-law…” Du Jingtang couldn't change the way he had addressed her in the past. ”I'm sorry.” He was embarrassed. ”It became a habit to call you like this.”

”It's fine.” Xia Ruoxin didn't take it to heart. It was just a form of salutation after all. However, she was no longer his in-law. That salutation belonged to another woman.

”You can address me by my name.” Xia Ruoxin's finger was caressing the exquisite teacup as she held it in her left hand. It was made of white porcelain which resembled jade with a flowery design. Good tea accompanied by a beautiful cup resulted in an expensive cup of tea.

”Okay. I'll call you Sister Ruoxin.” Du Jingtang gave a hearty smile and picked up his teacup casually. There wasn't a sign of awkwardness. In truth, she was younger than he was, but he still felt it was more appropriate to address her as his senior because she had been his cousin-in-law in the past. He couldn't bring himself to call her directly by her name.

”Sister Ruoxin, my cousin…” He steadied himself and sighed. ”His character has always been like this—too overbearing and arrogant. That's why he had done all those things in the past. He owed you an apology.”

”There's no need to. We are not related now. I will also tell him everything is alright.” Xia Ruoxin's grip on the teacup tightened. She was actually smiling deep down as she listened to Du Jingtang's words.

Besides Chu Lui and herself, no one in the world knew exactly what Chu Lui had done to her. He didn't just hurt or ruin her. He had almost caused her daughter's death. This alone was something that she found unforgivable.

”If I may…” Du Jingtang felt he was spouting nonsense, but he had to ask.

”Go ahead.” Xia Ruoxin always remembered the kindness from Du Jingtang so she treated him the best among all the members from the Chu and Xia households.

Du Jingtang touched his nose. Then, he asked Xia Ruoxin seriously. ”Sister Ruoxin, if my cousin was repentant and willing to change, will you reconcile with him? I'm saying if…”

Xia Ruoxin set her cup down and rested her hand palm down against the table surface.

She shook her head.

”I'm sorry. That is not possible. There's no 'if'. There is no way back for me, and I won't go back to him.”

Naturally, Du Jingtang already knew her answer. However, he couldn't help himself from feeling disappointed.

Sigh. That was true, too. Not everyone could mend a broken mirror. Similarly, not every married couple who had gone their separate ways was able to reconcile and get back together. He had grown up together with Chu Lui. His cousin was not a bad person. To err is human. One would do something wrong at some point in time. However, some things could be forgiven while others couldn't. Some people were willing to seek reconciliation, but some simply wouldn't.